The Rock A
Bops evolved from an early 50’s group called “The Harry Vee Five”. The
group, active from 1951 through late 1954, consisted of bandleader Harry
Verfaillie on sax, Rose Perigine on piano, Johnny Barkham on drums, Fred
Anzide on bass and Harry's wife, Joan
Weber handling the vocal duties. Harry and Fred had been playing
together since the 1940s and were both charter members of the Gloucester
City, New Jersey-based Garden State String Band.

Harry and Joan
left the group to go on tour promoting her record “Let
Me Go Lover”. “Let
Me Go Lover” was first heard on the Studio One television show on
November 15, 1954. A result of the program was to illustrate how
efficiently a song could be promoted by introducing it to the public via
radio or television production. The recording, released by Columbia
Records as catalog number 40366, was pre-placed in national record
stores by Columbia executive Mitch Miller the week before the program
and because of its availability the record sold over 100,000 copies in
the first week of its release. It first reached the Billboard magazine
chartson December 4, 1954, and by January of 1955 had gone to Number 1,
selling over a million copies.

After Harry
and Joan departed,
Johnny, Fred, and Rose formed the Rock A Bops. The
Rock A Bops performed at many South Jersey nightclubs and entertainment
venues, including Murray's (known later as the Green Briar Restaurant),
Andy’s Log Cabin, Lindenwold Inn (also known as Charlie Ventura’s),
Lou Palma’s, Jack Downey’s, the Hurricane in Wildwood and Bay Shores
in Somers Point to name just a few. They also made many
appearances at the Erie Social Club in Philadelphia along with the
famous artists appearing there on the weekends. The group continued to
work well into 1984 with various musicians joining.

Some of the
well known local musicians who became part of the Rock A Bops over the
years, in addition to those in the picture included Joe Phillips,
George Nardello, Eddie Rose, and Sonny Sparano. There were many others.

This
webpage grew out of another page on this website called MOVIES,
DINING, NIGHTLIFE, & GENERAL FUN In Camden and Vicinity - June 10,
1960 which basically consisted of all the advertisements in the
entertainment section of the Camden Courier-Post on the day mentioned. Johnny B. and the Rock-a-Bops
were one of the acts mentioned. As stated on that page, I would very much like to
find out and post some information and photos of some of some of the
live acts advertised below. Some of course are relatively famous...
Gerry Mulligan, Earl Bostic, and Steve Gibson & the Red Caps for
example. Then there are some less well known today.... after all, who
wouldn't want to know about "The Sensational Trolley Car and her
Motormen", "The 3 Leaders featuring Acey Ducey", and Col
Nemeth, the "Gypsy King of the Ivories"? If you have any
information on
some of these acts, please contact me by e-mail.